AP Euro Unit 2: The Age of Religious Wars (1560–1648)

Huguenots

French Calvinists, making up about 10% of the population and a significant political threat due to their noble representation.

The Valois Family

The ruling Catholic dynasty in France, led by Catherine de' Medici, seeking stability during religious conflicts.

The Guise Family

Ultra-Catholic faction in France, supported by the Papacy and Jesuits, strong in Paris and Northern France.

The Bourbon Family

Leaders of the Huguenots in France, prominent in the south and west.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

A violent event in 1572 where Catholics massacred thousands of Huguenots in Paris during a royal wedding.

Henri IV (Henry of Navarre)

The first Bourbon king of France who converted to Catholicism for political unity, famously saying, 'Paris is well worth a mass.'

Politiques

Rulers prioritizing political stability and national unity over religious conformity.

Edict of Nantes (1598)

Document granting Huguenots rights to worship, maintain fortified towns, and access civil rights, marking a step towards religious toleration.

The Thirty Years' War

A series of conflicts in Europe (1618-1648) initially rooted in religious disputes, evolving into a struggle for political power.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

Treaty recognizing Lutheranism but excluding Calvinism, setting the stage for religious tensions in the Holy Roman Empire.

Defenestration of Prague

Incident in 1618 where Protestant nobles threw Catholic officials from a window, triggering the Bohemian Phase of the Thirty Years' War.

Battle of White Mountain

A conflict in 1620 where Catholic forces defeated Protestants, leading to the recatholicization of Bohemia.

Albrecht von Wallenstein

Imperial general known for defeating Protestant forces during the Danish Phase of the Thirty Years' War.

Edict of Restitution (1629)

Declaration by the Emperor aiming to reclaim secularized church properties, escalating tensions with Protestant princes.

Gustavus Adolphus

The Lutheran King of Sweden who led Protestant forces during the Swedish Phase, recognized for his military genius.

Cardinal Richelieu

French chief minister who supported Gustavus Adolphus, showing political motives outweighed religious allegiances.

French Phase (1635–1648)

The final phase of the Thirty Years' War where France directly entered to combat the Habsburgs.

The Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Treaty ending the Thirty Years' War, reinstating the Peace of Augsburg, adding Calvinism as a legally recognized religion.

Religious Toleration

The practice of allowing different religious beliefs to coexist, significantly influenced by events like the Edict of Nantes.

Sola Scriptura

The doctrine emphasizing scripture as the sole authority in matters of faith, leading to increased literacy during the Reformation.

Witchcraft Craze (c. 1580–1650)

A period of intensified witch hunts propelled by religious uncertainty and societal upheaval, disproportionately affecting women.

Mannerism

An artistic style featuring distorted figures and complex compositions, reflecting the anxiety of the Reformation era.

Baroque

An art style embraced by the Catholic Counter-Reformation characterized by dramatic expression intended to inspire faith.

Misogyny

Prejudice against women that contributed to the witch hunts, targeting those in vulnerable social positions.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685)

Louis XIV's annulment of the Edict of Nantes, reversing the toleration granted to Huguenots.

Political Struggle of the Thirty Years' War

By the third and fourth phases of the Thirty Years' War, the conflict had transitioned from religious to political dimensions.

Sovereignty

The concept emphasized by the Peace of Westphalia, recognizing the autonomy of over 300 German princes against the Holy Roman Emperor.